Houston divorce filings tend to spike after the holidays

Houston family law attorney Daryl Longworth says January is when many couples stop waiting and begin the divorce process, especially after the holiday season ends. He is also laying out what Texas spouses can expect in the first 30 days of a case and why early preparation can reduce delays.

Why it matters: - January often becomes the busiest divorce month because many couples wait until the holidays are over before filing. - The timing affects families in Harris County and across Texas, especially parents trying to manage custody, housing, and finances. - Early preparation can help avoid delays, but a January filing does not shorten Texas’s required waiting periods.

What happened: - Attorney Daryl Longworth, founder of Longworth Law Firm in Houston, outlined why divorce filings often rise in January and what the opening stage of a Texas divorce looks like. - Longworth said many people make the decision before they call and then act after one last holiday with the children. - The firm released guidance for spouses considering divorce as the new year begins.

The details: - University of Washington researchers who reviewed Washington state court records from 2001 to 2015 found two yearly peaks in divorce filings, in March and August, after major holiday periods. - A University of Turku study in Finland found divorce petitions rose about 38% from December to January. - The release says the pattern suggests filings start climbing in January and often build into March. - The release does not claim a specific local filing percentage for Harris County. - Common reasons for the January rise include waiting until Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s pass, especially when children are involved. - A new calendar year often prompts couples to review money, housing, and plans for the next 12 months. - Year-end bonuses and tax records can give a clearer picture of household income and assets. - Holiday stress can bring forward problems that were already present in the marriage. - Longworth said many clients want an honest picture of the process rather than a rush to file. - Texas residency rules require at least one spouse to have lived in Texas for the prior six months and in the filing county for the prior 90 days. - The divorce petition is filed with the district clerk. - The other spouse must be served or agree to accept service, and that spouse has a limited time to respond. - Texas courts generally cannot grant a divorce until the 60th day after filing, with limited exceptions such as a family-violence conviction or an active protective order. - A petition filed in early January cannot lead to a final decree before early March under the standard waiting period. - Either spouse can ask for temporary orders covering conservatorship and possession schedules, child support, use of the home, and bill payments while the case is pending. - Key records for property division include bank statements, retirement accounts, tax returns, mortgage documents, and a debt list. - The firm estimates an uncontested divorce usually takes about two to four months. - A contested divorce that needs hearings can take six to twelve months or longer. - A well-prepared petition can help avoid delays, but January does not speed up the process. - The firm offers a free, one-hour confidential case evaluation and virtual consultations.

Between the lines: - The timing message is as important as the legal one: January is less about an instant court backlog and more about deferred decisions finally turning into filings. - The release also frames preparation as a way to reduce conflict, especially when one spouse may file first and the other has only a short response window. - Mediation appears to be a preferred option when both sides can negotiate in good faith. - The practical guidance is aimed at keeping people from making rushed financial or parenting moves before getting legal advice.

What's next: - Couples considering divorce in the new year are being urged to gather records, document parenting routines, and understand the filing process before acting. - Spouses who think the other side may file first are being told to learn the response rules now. - The firm says mediation, negotiation, and litigation will all remain part of the early-case strategy depending on the dispute.

The bottom line: - January does not make a Texas divorce easier or faster, but it is often the month when delayed decisions finally become legal action.